Fountain pen



Aug. 3, 1937. F. c. osTHElMl-:R

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Dec. ll, 1955 2l l9 M '50 'L 5554 13' l l IANVENTOR.

Fume C. os'fuamm.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Ang. 3, 1937 STATES PATE OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain pens and particularly to a vacuum filler type pen in which the removable protective cap is employed in creating the vacuum necessary for the filling operation.

The objects of the invention are; first, to provide a novel construction in fountain pens Whereby the rubber sac will be eliminated, allowing the entire space inside the barrel to be utilized l0 for ink storage.

Second, to provide means whereby the cap may cooperate with the barrel and associated parts thereof, to create a vacuum to ll the pen with writing fluid to a greater capacity than is possible with the sac type pen.

rIhird, to provide a vacuum filler type fountain pen in which a vacuum may be created inside the removable cap, the barrel, the pen dipped into a container of writing fluid, a passage opened between the vacum chamber and the interior of the barrel or ink reservoir to allow the writing uid to rise into the reservoir due to the pressure exerted by the atmosphere.

And lastly, to provide a fountain pen of the class described with a minimum number of parts, inexpensive in construction and simple and efficient in operation.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated several preferred forms of the device.

Fig. l is a longitudinal, sectional view through one form of my fountain pen, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the passage between the vacuum chamber and the ink reservoir being open. f

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view through a modified form of my invention prior to the seal expanding operation.

5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the position of the parts after the seal eX- panding operation and prior to the vacuum cre- 50 ating operation.

Fig. 'Z is a sectional View on the Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 6 showing the position of the parts after the vacuum has been created and the passageway line 1--1 of when associated withl (Cl. 1Z0-47) between the vacuum chamber and the ink reservoir has been opened to allow the fluid to rise into the reservoir.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view through a further modied form of pen, preparatory to the engagement of the sealing member by the end of the barrel.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the parts in position after the sealing member has been engaged.

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the vacuum has been created and the passageway between the vacuum chamber and the ink reservoir has been opened to allow the fluid to rise into the reservoir.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view, of the end of the pen shown in Figs. 9 to 11, with a protective plug applied.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, in the rst form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the numeral I designates a pen barrel having a writing point 2 and filler or feed 3 of usual construction. The end of the pen barrel I has a reduced threaded portion 4 with end wall 5 having an offset or eccentrically positioned passage 5 therethrough, opening into the interior of the barrel or ink reservoir 1. In threaded engagement with the reduced portion 4 is a head 8 having an annular skirt portion or flange 9, normally positioned on reduced portion Il! of barrel I, and which may be provided with knurled, fluted or other gripping surface 9.

A sealing washer I I is positioned in the female end of head 8 and is adapted to butt against the end wall 5 to seal the offset opening 6 from central passage I2 in head 8. A central opening I3 is provided in washer II to correspond with passage I2.

Head B has a reduced threaded male tip I4 adapted to engage threaded opening I5 in piston or seal retaining cap It, a seal member or washer I'I being provided between head 8 and piston cap I6, through which ext/ends a central passage I8.

The periphery of sealing member I1 is adapted to Contact the inside surface of protective and vacuum cap I9 when it is applied to the barrel I, said barrel being of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of thecap I9. An opening 2D is provided in the end of cap I9 for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In filling the pen shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, the cap I9 is placed on the end of the barrel I as shown in Fig. l and, with the head 8 screwed down tightly to close the passage to the reservoir 1, the cap I9 is forced down onto the barrel to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the air in the chamber 2| exhausting through opening 20. With the palm of the hand, indicated at 22, held over the opening 20, the cap I9 may be withdrawn from the barrel until gripping surface 9' of flange 9 is exposed, a vacuum having been created in the chamber 2|. Keeping the opening 20 closed and the fingers of the hand firmly holding the head 8 from turning, the point 2 and feed 3 are placed below the surface of the writing fluid in a container and the barrel I turned to partly unscrew the head 8 to create space 23, connecting central passage I2 with oifset opening 6 and consequently con necting vacuum chamber 2| with ink reservoir 1 to allow the atmospheric pressure to force the writing fluid up into the ink reservoir. 'I'he barrel may now be turned to force wall 5 against washer II to close opening 6, the pen being filled and 'ready for service. Y

In Figs. 4 to 8, both inclusive, I have shown a modified vform of pen, very much similar to the first form but having a wider sealing washer 24, the outer periphery of whichmay be flush with the outside surface of the'pen barrel. In the end of head or piston I6 is a transverse groove or slot 25 in which may engage the tongue or rib 26 in the closed end of cap I9, which may be passed over the barrel I, the air exhausting along the sides between the barrel and the cap.

'f In filling this modified form of pen, the head 8 is tightly screwed down on barrel I and the cap I9 pushed onto the barrel to the position shown in Fig. 6, with the rib 26 engaging slot 25 in cap I6. By firmly grasping the cap I9 and rotating the barrel I, the piston cap I6 is screwed tightly against sealing washer 24 expanding it as shown to form an airtight seal against the inner surface of the cap I9. The cap and barrel may now be drawn apart until the gripping surface 9 is exposed to view, 'a vacuum having been created in chamber 2|. Dipping'the point of the pen into the writing fluid and turning the barrel with respect to the head 8 will cause the ink to" ow into the ink reservoir 1 as hereinbefore de` scribed. The headmay' now be turned to seal passage 6 and, removing the cap I9, the retaining cap or piston I6 may be backed off to allow the sealing washer 24 to return to normalcy.

In Figs. 9 to 12, both inclusive, I have shown a further modified form of fountain pen in which the head 21 is provided with a female threaded opening 28 adapted to engage reduced'threaded tip 29 of sealing or piston cap 30, having a centra] opening 3| and a sealing washer 32 held in position by suitable nut 33. The piston cap 30 and its associated parts/are normally positioned in the closed end of cap I9 as shown in Fig. 9. With Athe head 21 I9 is applied tothe barrel and the threaded tip 29 is screwed into opening 28. (See Fig. 10.) The cap I9 and barrel I may now be drawn apart'and avacuum created in chamber 2|, and after inserting the point of the pen into a source of ink supply, the head 21 may be turned to connect thelink reservoir 1 with the vacuum chamber 2 I to fill the pen in the predescribed manner, afterwhich the passage 6` may be closed. A small transverse slot 34 in the sealingy cap 39 will allow the'air to escape from the chamber 2| when the sealing cap or piston is pushed back into the cap I9 in readiness for future filling operations. To finish olf the end ofthe head screwed down tightly the cap 21, a plug 35 may be provided (see Fig. 12) or the head 21 may take the shape as shown at 36 in dotted lines.

In present practice, ordinary fountain pens of the vacuum type must be dipped into the ink container before the vacuum is created and I have found such procedure unsatisfactory because it is difficult to keep the hand steady and any abrupt movement may cause the ink to spill, with attendant inconvenience. With my pen however, the vacuum is created before dipping the pen in the ink and after immersion, a slight turn of the barrel will allow the pen to fill with ink. The barrel may be transparent so that the ink supply in the pen may be easily determined. I havealso found that in the ordinary fountain pen, when the ink supply runs low, the heat generated'by the users hand, or body or 'from any other cause, will expand the air in the ink reservoir, forcing the ink out through the feed, this being a common cause for leaking pens. With my invention, however, the head 8 or 21, whichever the casemay be, may be turned to open the reservoir 1 to the atmosphere, relieving any excessive internalv pressure.

Obvio'usly, changes may be made in form, proportion and details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described herein.

From the foregoing it' will be apparent that I have provided several novel forms of fountain pens in which the protective cap is utilized for filling purposes and the use of a rubber sac is dispensed with, thereby allowing the entire interior of the barrel to serve as an ink reservoir. The number of parts have been reduced to a vminimum without detraeting from the desired yIt will be seen that there are no metal parts bearing on metal and consequently no parts to wear out rapidly and requiring replacement. The only member to be replaced is the sliding seal member I1 in the first form of the invention, member 24 in the second form and member 32 in the third form, which is normally made of rubber or leather or similar material and which may be replaced easily by the owner of the pen at a negligible cost.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the barrel to form a vacuum in said cap, means operable after the vacuum has been formed in said cap. for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir.

2. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with 'the' barrel to form a vacuum in said cap, a normally closed passage between the ink reservoir and the interior of the cap, means for opening the passage after the vacuum has been created, to allow atmospheric pressure to said cap, means operable after the vacuum hasl been formed in the cap for connecting the ink reservoir'with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir, said means comprising a head rotatably carried on the barrel and having a passage therethrough opening into the interior of the cap, a second passage through the end of the barrel sealed from and oiset with respect to the rst mentioned passage and communicable therewith upon rotation of the head with respect Ato the barrel.

4. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the barrel to form a vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing iiuid up intothe reservoir, said means comprising a head rotatably carried on the barrel and having a passage therethrough opening into the interior of the cap, a second passage through the end of the barrel sealed from and oiiset with respect to the first mentioned passage and communicable therewith upon ro-tation of the head with respect to the barrel, said head having an elongated skirt portion sleeved on the barrel, said skirt portion being exposable only7 after the vacuum has been formed in said cap.

5. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with the barrel, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing meansto form a vacuum in said cap, means operable after the vacuum has been formed in said cap for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir.

6. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with the barrel, an elongated cap slidably cooperative With the sealing means to form a vacuum in said cap, a normally cio-sed passage between the ink reservoir and the interior of the cap and through the sealing means, means for opening the passage after the vacuum has been created to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir.

7. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with the barrel and having a passage therethrough opening into the interior of the cap, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing means to form a vacuum in said cap, means operable after the vacuum has been formed in said cap for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir, said means comprising a head rotatably carried on the barrel and having a passage therethrough communicable with the passage in the sealing member, a second passage through the end of the barrel sealed from and offset with respect to the iirst mentioned passage and communicable therewith upon rotation of the head with respect to the barrel.

8. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with the barrel and having a passage therethrough opening into the interior of the cap, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing means to form a vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir, said means comprising a head rotatably carried on the barrel and having a passage therethrough communicable with the passage in the sealing member, a second passage through the end of the barrel sealed from and oiset with respect to the first mentioned passage and communicable therewith upon rotation of. the head with respect to the barrel, said head having an elongated skirt portion sleeved on the barrel, said skirt portion being exposable only after the vacuum has been formed in said cap.

9. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with the barrel and having a passage therethrough opening into the interior of the cap, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing means to form a vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing uid up into the reservoir, said means comprising a head rotatably carried on the barrel and having a passage therethrough communicable with the passage in the sealing member, a second passage through the end of the Ybarrel sealed from and oiset with respect to the first mentioned passage and communicable therewith upon rotation of the head with respect to the barrel, said head being operable only after the' cap has been retracted on the barrel to expose the head and to create the vacuum.

10. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the barrel to form a vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing uid up into the reservoir, said means comprising a head rotatably carried on the barrel and having a passage therethrough opening into the interior of the cap,

a second passage through the end of. the barrel sealed from and oifset with respect to the first mentioned passage and communicable therewith upon rotation of the head with respect to the barrel, said head being operable only after the cap has been retracted on the barrel to expose the head and to create the vacuum.

11. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, an elongated cap slidably cooperative With the barrel to form a vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir, said means being operable only after the cap has been retracted on the barrel to create the vacuum.

l2. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with the barrel, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing means to form a vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing iiuid up into the reservoir, said last named means being operable only after the cap has been retracted on the barrel to create the vacuum.

13. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with the barrel, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing means to form a vacuum in said cap, an air escape opening in the normally closed end of the cap to permit the barrel to easily engage the cap, said opening being obstructed during the vacuum creating operation, means operable after the vacuum has ben formed in said cap for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing fluid up into the reservoir.

14. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, an expansible sealing means cooperative with and normally ush with the barrel, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing means after the same is expanded to form a Vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the 5 ink reservoir1 with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric presure to force Writing uid up into the reservoir.

15. In a fountain pen having a barrel providingA 15 fluid up into the reservoir, means for expanding the sealing means into peripheral sealing engagement with the interior of the cap.

16. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, a sealing means cooperative with 20 and normally flush with the barrel, an elongated cap slidably cooperative with the sealing means to form a vacuum in said cap, means for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of thek cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writ- 17. In a fountain pen having a barrel providing an ink reservoir, an elongated cap Slidably cooperative with the barrel, a slidable seal normally positioned in the closed end of the cap, means for connecting the barrel to the seal to create a vacuum in the cap when the barrel is retracted therefrom and means operable after the Vacuum has been created in said cap for connecting the ink reservoir with the interior of the cap to allow atmospheric pressure to force writing Huid up into the reservoir.

FRANK C. OSTHEIMER. 20 

